After reader Jerry England asked how the candidates were qualified for the role of Mayor of Watford, we asked them for their CVs.

Here they are:

PETER TAYLOR

Oxhey Avenue, Watford, WD19 4HB

01923 442589, taylorpc@hotmail.co.uk

COMMUNITY

5/2016 – present        Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Client Services

  • Working with Dorothy Thornhill I am responsible for Watford’s parks, leisure centres and bin collections.
  • Parks: Overseen improvements to the town’s parks. We now have 11 Green Flag Parks, more than any other council in Hertfordshire
  • Leisure Centres: Both were recently graded ‘excellent’. I oversaw the new contract negotiations which will result in improved facilities, some free swimming and gym sessions, more staff receiving the national Living Wage and a better deal for local council tax-payers.
  • Bin collections: Maintained weekly waste and recycling bin collections and increased recycling in the town to record levels.

5/2015 – 5/2016         Cabinet Member for Community

  • Expanded and improved the range of family events including the Big Beach, Big Screen and ice skating.

5/2012 – present        Watford Borough Councillor (Oxhey Ward)

  • Work closely with residents and a range of organisations to resolve local problems, including improvements to Oxhey Park and improving road safety near local schools. Experience of speaking at full council meetings and in front of residents, politicians and local media.

EMPLOYMENT

2/2017 – present        Assistant Director, Catholic Education Service

  • Establishing four regional training hubs to develop future school leaders across England and Wales.
  • Provide policy advice and guidance to a network of over 2,200 Catholic Schools and work with senior civil servants, school and university leaders and others on a range of education policy issues.

5/2014 – 2/2017         Education Adviser, Catholic Education Service

  • Conducted research and produced reports on current education challenges. Responded to government consultations and worked with the Department for Education on projects relating to school leadership, governance and school standards.

9/2008 – 5/2014         Teacher (Politics and Economics) St Dominic’s Sixth Form, Harrow

  • As a head of subject, I supported newly qualified teachers and worked with others to increase the amount of extra-curricular activities.
    • Helped to organise many trips and arranged regular guest speaker visits to the college.  

11/2008 – 06/2013     Teacher, LSE Choice (Economics)

  • I ran many Saturday morning sessions for this widening participation programme. Gifted, able and talented students from across London attend these sessions which covered topics beyond the scope of the A-level syllabus.

12/2002 – 9/2007       Research Assistant, Rt Hon. Alistair Carmichael MP

  • Worked in the Westminster office of the MP for Orkney and Shetland. My main roles included writing parliamentary questions, drafting motions, preparing briefings, writing speeches, producing press articles, leading tutorials on parliamentary procedure and taking groups on tours of Parliament.

EDUCATION

2007 – 2008    Institute of Education, University of London, PGCE (Business & Economics)

1998 – 2002    The University of Edinburgh, Economics and Politics, MA (Hons) 2:1

  • Completed a research placement at the Scottish Parliament. This focussed on the effectiveness of homelessness legislation. 

1996 - 1998     Notre Dame School and Sixth Form, Sheffield

  • 4 A-levels (1998)
  • 10 GCSEs (1996)

OTHER INFORMATION

  • I am a Friend of Oxhey Park and help to organise children’s activities at my local church. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, taking part in pub quizzes and occasionally going to the gym.

Watford Observer:

GEORGE JABBOUR 

Education:

- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering: graduated as the top student on the course

- Bachelor’s Degree in Law: obtained the top grades in the final year

- Master’s Degree in Finance: graduated as the top student on the course

Professional Experience:

- Federal Highway Research Institute in Germany

- International investment bank Goldman Sachs

- Ethos, a small business that George started in 2009

Professional Recognition:

- Named as one of the 40-under-40 rising stars in investment banking in the UK

- Described by financial commentators as 'ethical', 'honourable', a 'hero' and having an 'extraordinary past in investment banking'

- The New York Times: George 'assisted Portugal in restructuring some trades, which contributed to the start of a parliamentary inquiry into various complex deals and a scandal that has cost many senior political officials their jobs’

- The Independent: George 'has also helped expose other cases...[is] a leading adviser...who has advised indebted governments on recovering losses made from complex transactions'

- The Telegraph: George was 'a talented banker'...advised 'governments in countries including Portugal, Italy, France and Spain, on understanding and restructuring complex trades they may have entered into with banks'

- The Sunday Express: George 'structured risk reduction and insurance deals for UK pension schemes'

Awards:

Awarded a Certificate of Commendation in acknowledgement of 'bravery and public spirited action' and in recognition of the 'meritorious service...displayed leading to the apprehension and conviction of a criminal'.

His Honour Judge K Thomas whilst sitting at the Crown Court stated: 'Mr Jabbour is commended for his public spirited action in intervening when a young girl was sexually assaulted on a public bus, when she was travelling alone. It would have been very easy for Mr Jabbour to ignore what was happening and to not confront the perpetrator, but Mr Jabbour took appropriate action to prevent the offence becoming more serious than it was.'

Voluntary Experience:

- Chair of Governors at school where George served said: ‘George has been a very committed and effective governor.  He has made a real difference to our school… George's contributions to our school have been thoughtful, intelligent and insightful’.

- Setting up a number of initiatives in the local community: Watford’s Rubbish Friends, Community Connect, Watford Against Fly-Tipping and Watford Together

Watford Observer:

The Watford Observer is awaiting a response from Jagtar Singh Dhindsa.